Confirmed New Security measures coming to Disney Parks

[Josh Hendy]

Scanners, ok I guess ... will we be taking off our shoes, and will we be scanned with "nude scanners" and then checked out by those oh-so-well-vetted security staff?

And K-9 units?

Because nothing says, "I feel really safe here" like the sight of a bunch of Alsatian dogs being led around by cops in body armor ...

This isn't a beef with Disney ... it's with the utterly failed policies of "you know who" and "you know who's predecessor". And by utterly failed I mean, completely malicious.

 

[DebbieB]

Go ahead, paint all concealed carriers with the same, broad paintbrush. BTW, it's lunatic.

99.9% of us are law abiding and disarm if and when we are required to. That same 99.9% carry to protect their families and we aren't trying to play hero. I can tell you that my gun has never jumped out of it's holster and harmed any innocent bystanders and 99.999999% of the people around me don't know I have it.

I can also tell you, several times as a guest, I forgot to leave my pocket knife in the car. I never did it on purpose but when you carry something on a regular basis, it happens. Knives are in the same category as any other weapon at WDW. How many here have carried some sort of knife into the parks? Yes, little tiny keychain knives and leatherman tools count. Remember, box cutters were used to kill hundreds of people on 9/11.

Sometimes, it's just a simple mistake. BTW, People who want to harm you and yours don't pay attention to laws and rules.

All of those who have not made a mistake can come forward and throw rocks now.

I was at WDW last week. I noticed security at MK was stepped up but not so much at the other parks. A guard at MK on Thursday specifically asked me "anything sharp in here (my purse)?". I said "no". He said "ok, let's check". First time that ever happened.

I'm not surprised, given the American gun culture, that his has become necessary, and I have no problem with the concept. But oy very, I'm afraid of what the lines are going to be like at the security point, unless they open up a bunch more lines. All us Grandma's and Grandpa's with our replacement joints are going to be having the alarms ringing like Friday night at the slots. I assume that all our bags are going to be scanned, too, instead of the current manual/visual checks? Hand wanding everyone in a wheelchair/ecv/stroller? I'm just thinking of the logistical problems they could have.

I was at King's Dominion and Six Flags Over Texas this summer, both had metal detectors on the other side of the turnstiles. They also did a hand bag search. Kennywood here in Pittsburgh has had a metal detector for at least 10 years. Sports venues have them. Many sports venues have banned larger bags. A purse can't be bigger than a sheet of paper at Heinz Field.

Why not WDW, an extra layer of security can't hurt. I always thought it didn't make sense that those without bags just walked in. I know there is surveillance but someone could have anything under a jacket or under their clothes.

 

[middlechild]

I was in Disneyland Paris last month - before the Paris attacks. Walking up to the entry I encountered more than four armed men in camo with weapons fully on display. They were deployed in teams of two, as one pair checked with another, then moved out in a measured fashion. All guests directed to pass through a security checkpoint were scans were employed, meaning walk through x-ray and belt scanner for bags. Carrying nothing, I was directed to a simple walk through port. Having been through many airports, it was not like belts or shoes or whatever. Nothing like Manchester NH where you had to remove your wallet too! Point being that world wide at least one Disney park already has x-ray security. My avatar is from Disneyland Paris!

There was a queue, as you would imagine. Most people took scanners in stride and adapted to requests made of them. Overall, fairly quick pass through.

 

[scottishvixen]

Not that this will affect me for another 3 years, but as long as they are consistent in their approach then it's acceptable. Just back and what annoyed me greatly about bag check was the lack in consistency. Some officers would barely glance in your bag and others I think would happily have given people a full cavity search if allowed to!

 

[maxiesmom]

This is a welcome change.

Say you were to go to the park without any kind of bag. No matter what you're carrying in your pockets, even if you've got giant cargo pants on, there's no search currently required. It'd be easy enough, especially when it's busy, to waltz through the no-bag entry with goodness knows what on your person.

It would be simple enough to do away with the no bag line and make everyone empty their pockets. I have little faith in a metal detector that has to be turned down low enough that people with change in their pocket, or women with barrettes in their hair won't set it off.

 

[soniam]

All I have to say to the "security" increases and "advocates" and gun conversation is
Doh!

 

[DisOrBust]

Every time I ride the monorail thru Epcot I think how easy it would be for it to blown up as goes thru the park. But it must be just as easy to blow the subway in NYc and that hasn't happened either. I just don't see how in both situations you could ever prevent that 100% without causing major havoc. A football stadium is a one day event where you can put in strict surveillance but the parks have people coming and going all day long. Even if you increase security at the park entrances what about the buses,monorail, DTD. If the increase is a deterrent I doubt it will stop a motivated nut job.

 

[jlundeen]

This is a welcome change.

Say you were to go to the park without any kind of bag. No matter what you're carrying in your pockets, even if you've got giant cargo pants on, there's no search currently required. It'd be easy enough, especially when it's busy, to waltz through the no-bag entry with goodness knows what on your person.

Actually, for the past three trip, we have really tried to go "no bag." Only cell phones, little tiny zippered pouch with credit cards, meds, etc., and sunglasses.

This past trip in early Dec., I was wearing a pair of cargo shorts (who ever thought these were a good idea for women????) with cell phone battery chargers in the hip pocket. A guard at the "no-bag" line pointed to my pocket and asked what was in it...I pulled out the charger and he let us go through.

I for one agree with more security at the front gates. People tend to relax to the point of not being aware of their surroundings while in a park. If I need to go through a metal detector to get in, I will, but I can't imagine how it's going to work for those with huge backpacks and other bags. I hope there is a "speedy" line for those traveling lighter.

Here's a link to more on the "concealed weapon" guy...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/man-arr...disney-updates+(Disney+Updates+-+wdwinfo.com)

 

[disneynutz]

Security theater, while Disney doesn't want weapons brought into the parks, it's more important that the cash paying guests feel safe at Disney and that they don't postpone their Disney vacation due to security concerns. The active patrol boat on Crescent Lake during the day is a good example of security theater. Very visible, it makes people feel safer even though it serves a minimal function and doesn't operate after dark when one would think that the crime rate would increase.

 

[Eoghann]

I'll be interested to see how they implement this without creating long lines.

I tend to think it's mostly theater because scanners etc. have proven to be pretty ineffective at airports with stuff constantly getting past. Plus there are so many Disney targets outside of the parks (Disney Springs, all the resorts, the monorail etc.)

As far as the concealed gun thing is concerned, this isn't a political issue. Disney is private property, follow their rules.

 

[dogdangling]

Ive been through the scanners at Paris, the staff were very quick, efficient and professional, I also saw some soldiers with guns walking at the station which is practically right next to the park entrance and it didn't put me off.

I welcome the extra security and hope WDW install it well into their parks, lets get it over with and once past security we can then enjoy why we are all here, DISNEY!!!

 

[OldsDr]

I am more scared of a Boston Marathon type thing waiting in line for security check than I am anything inside the park.

 

[Ursula's Apprentice]

With that in mind, I agree that WDW is private property and you need to respect their rules...I just feel like most people are going "Oh yes, please! Check everyone and everything, because that'll make us safer!" and it just isn't that way. But like someone else said, this isn't the board for that discussion really...

 

[Catvondita]

Very thankful for this. Leave the guns at home people!

 

[soniam]

Ive been through the scanners at Paris, the staff were very quick, efficient and professional, I also saw some soldiers with guns walking at the station which is practically right next to the park entrance and it didn't put me off.

I welcome the extra security and hope WDW install it well into their parks, lets get it over with and once past security we can then enjoy why we are all here, DISNEY!!!

They may have actually been police. Police in Europe tend to look like military to Americans and carry visible weapons. Most European police tend to dress like American SWAT teams, instead of the traditional police uniform you see in the US or in England. American police tend to have their guns holstered, and tend to have smaller size handguns, instead of military-style rifles.

 

[HopperFan]

Me either. I searched earlier when my fiancé meantioned it and could only come up with old rumors from 2013 and a few about a test the did years ago.

Yeah, considering its intercot ... and they claim use of airport scanners.... anything is possible but airport scanners would be a cluster and we'd need an extra hour to get in. Gosh a pin lanyard would set them off.

Should some type of metal detectors be built into "gate" areas, why not, but there has to be common sense. Do we fear the individual nutcake or a terrorist attack? It will probably stop the nutcake if there are no bypass entries. Terrorist? Nope.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yeah, considering its intercot ... and they claim use of airport scanners.... anything is possible but airport scanners would be a cluster and we'd need an extra hour to get in. Gosh a pin lanyard would set them off.

Should some type of metal detectors be built into "gate" areas, why not, but there has to be common sense. Do we fear the individual nutcake or a terrorist attack? It will probably stop the nutcake if there are no bypass entries. Terrorist? Nope.

Agreed it isn't going to stop a terrorist in any way. Those guys are going to know that there are back ups before security. Look at how many attacks happen in airports outside of the US. They have similar security as us but until you get past security nothing is secure.

 

[smiths02]

I am more scared of a Boston Marathon type thing waiting in line for security check than I am anything inside the park.

I was thinking about this at rope drop. The resorts, Disney Springs, park entrances/exits (especially at rope drop or right after fireworks) would still be totally unprotected. I guess you would be safer once you are in the park if there were scanners.

 

[DebbieB]

Yeah, considering its intercot ... and they claim use of airport scanners.... anything is possible but airport scanners would be a cluster and we'd need an extra hour to get in. Gosh a pin lanyard would set them off.

Should some type of metal detectors be built into "gate" areas, why not, but there has to be common sense. Do we fear the individual nutcake or a terrorist attack? It will probably stop the nutcake if there are no bypass entries. Terrorist? Nope.

As I mentioned earlier, Kings Dominion, Six Flags, Kennywood (those are the ones I've been to recently) have airport style metal detectors and it isn't a "cluster" and doesn't take long to get in. Put your pin lanyard in a tray. If you pass, you barely notice it. If not, you get pulled aside for wanding.

 

[AngiTN]

They already do this in Paris. It's no different than entering any Major League Baseball, football or basketball stadium. They usually only make you take out cell phones and keys.

And where do you put said cell phones and keys while going through the check point at Disney?
Does Paris move the same number of people in their park that MK does?